Note: Edited by Zia Westerman 10/4/2017

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Planet: Earth

Location: Camp Jameson

I stared at Jeremy, unsure on how to respond, mostly because I did not fully understand. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet and said, "I'm sorry, but it's the truth. You had to know."

"I do not understand, Jeremy. What does it mean he will take me against my will? This is something I do not understand. Do you mean he will take me somewhere? Or would he steal my clothes?"

"Ugh, in a way, yes, I suppose you could say that." Jeremy rubbed the back of his neck. "Jewels, how are babies made?"

"Hatchlings," I corrected him. "They are grown."

He walked over to a chair in James's hut and sits down. "Well, here on Earth we don't grow our babies, we make them. But most of the time we use protection."

"You make them? How is it possible to make another living being?"

"Um, I'm not really sure how to explain it." Before I had a chance to press the subject further Jeremy looked at his wrist and said, "Come with me, I'll show you where you're sleeping until James gets back." He held his hand out and when I did not take it, he chuckled, "I won't bite, Jewels."

Reaching out I placed my hand in his. He smiled and intertwined our fingers. I followed as he stands up and we both walked out of James's hut.

He lead me through the camp, never letting go of my hand. We stopped outside of a small building. "This is where you'll be sleeping, I'm sorry it's not very big. It's the only one I could find." Jeremy frowned and took a step forward, he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. "I'll be just across the street in that house." He pointed to a large building. "Here's your keys."

When he turned around I grabbed his wrist which causes him to instantly stop. "I must talk to you when the big light takes its place in the sky."

"You mean in the morning?" I nodded my head. "Oh, okay. What about?"

I fiddled with the messenger orb that now was wrapped around my wrist. "I received a message from someone important, James knows."

Jeremy looked into my eyes, not saying a word. He reached his hand out and stroked my cheekbone, much like James had done but then I pulled away and it caused him to frown. "You're very beautiful, Jewels." He shook his head and said, "I meant to say, I'm sure if James knows he'll tell me when they're back. It can't be that important otherwise I'd know by now."

"But it is—"

"Goodnight, Jewels." He was already halfway across the street, not giving me a chance to explain.

I frowned. "It is important, Jeremy," I whispered to myself, a guard walking by gave me an odd look.

I pushed the door open, removed the keys from the lock and closed the door behind me.

A small flame flickered in a lamp on the wall. I noticed a small bed and sat down on it.

With my elbows rested on my knees, I bring my hands to my face and released a loud sigh. I was feeling homesick, seeing my mother like that made me want to return but I could not because I was trapped here on this world. Even if I could return I was not sure I would.

"I am so confused," I mumbled.

It was James who confused me. I did not know these feelings I was feeling when he simply touched me and more, when he eats my li—I mean kisses me.

It matters not because he was gone for two Earth weeks. These feelings would be gone by then and he would have most likely forgotten about me.

"I feel as though everything is coming crashing down," I spoke the truth, it was how I felt.

By the time the bright light began to rise in the sky and the camp was slowly waking up, I found myself walking out of my hut. I bumped into a hard chest and it sent me falling backwards but hands fell on my hips, steadying me.

"Crap, I'm sorry," Brett said, quickly removing his hands from my hips. "Didn't see ya there."

I rubbed my forehead looking up at him. "It is okay."

He smiled. "How'd you sleep? And how's your wound doing?" I had completely forgotten about my wound.

"Good," I told him. "You are up early."

He laughed. "Yeah, you know what they say, the early bird catches the worm."

I furrowed my brows. "Worm? What is worm? Is it something you eat? Or do you play with it?"

"It's a saying," he chuckled, rubbing his stomach. "I always get up early to eat, gotta keep the tank full."

"Tank?"

"Another saying." Brett placed a hand on my shoulder and asked, "Would you like to join me for breakfast, Jewels? I can teach you some human sayings."

And he did, for the next two weeks I spent the time with Brett, Mick and occasionally Jeremy who seemed to be keeping his distance from me. In those two weeks I had completely forgot about James and how he made me feel.

I was at the main gate watching Jeremy train some young kids. A scream followed by yells for help torn my attention away from Jeremy.

"Help!" the voice screamed, filled with panic. I knew that voice. "Help! Borums!"

It was the daughter from the woman I rescued a few weeks ago. I found myself running through the gates with Jeremy following close behind, a rifle in his hand.

"Jewels, wait—" he was cut off by the horrid trumpet noise.

I stopped outside the safety of the wall with Jeremy next to me. We both see the girl running straight for us. "They're coming!" she yelled. Her face was stained with tears with dirt was stuck to her cheeks.

Something made the trees sway and the ground beneath us trembled, Jeremy tenses and holds his rifle in the direction the girl had just came. "That doesn't sound like a Borum, it's too big."

The girl runs by us and into the safety of the camp, seconds later a large four-legged creature with a single horn on its head bursts through the trees.

"Oh, crap, it's a rhino! Jewels, get in the camp—"

I ignored him and walked towards this rhino. I could sense it was in pain. "You will be okay," I murmured, getting closer to this massive creature.

The rhino lifted its front right leg and slammed it on the ground. I almost fell over from the tremor, but luckily I managed to remain standing.

"Jewels! Get back here!" I heard Jeremy yell from behind me.

"Let the power control you," my mothers voice floated in my mind.

I listened to her voice and closed my eyes. I let the energy surge through my body as if I had just released it from its prison. My veins glowed with the power rising to the surface as the rhino charged at me.

The rhino lowered its horn, charging faster, its hooves causing the dirt to fly through the air with each impact they made with the ground. I could hear the air ripping around the rhino's body.

I waited till it was almost at me then I raised my hands out in front of me just as the horns hit, sending me flying backwards. We both crashed into the wall protecting the camp, the impact causing me to wince in pain.

With my hands wrapped tightly around the rhino's horn, I stared into its black eyes and it looked back at me.

I could see the pain hidden behind those big eyes, I could feel its pain being turned into this monster from the radiation. I could feel its pain as if it were my own.

The energy within me pulses from my hands and into the rhino's body. We both shine as bright as the light still rising on the horizon. I could feel myself getting weaker but I did not stop, I allowed my power control me.

A voice called to me in the distance. I could not hear it clearly due to the static noise from the energy surging into the rhino. I was forced to my knees as my hands fell from the rhino's horns.

Looking up at the rhino, I smiled. It was no longer the horrible, twisted creature it used to be.

"Oh, my god," someone on the wall above me said loud enough for me to hear. "How the hell is that possible? She changed it back to normal ..."

I went to stand up but my legs trembled and gave out beneath me, those arms with the markings covering them, wrapped around me, preventing me from hitting the ground. I was pulled against his chest as he completely wrapped both arms securely around my weakened body.

I managed to look upwards, meeting those hazel eyes. "James," was the last thing I said, before he, along with the world around me, disappeared into nothing but darkness.

*****

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